Don’t sweat the bulge, you might live longer

Those few extra pounds you’ve been meaning to lose? Think again. They might be unsightly, but they could add to your longevity.

That’s according to a 12-year study that will be published in Obesity, an online health journal.

Underweight people and those who are extremely obese are at increased risk of dying, but carrying a little extra weight might give people an advantage, said David Feeny, co-author of the study and senior investigator for Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research.

While other studies have shown that being overweight can increase health problems, this particular study only examined mortality rates — not quality of life.

But don’t grab that extra doughnut just yet.

“It may be that those few extra pounds actually protect older people as their health declines, but that doesn’t mean that people in the normal weight range should try to put on a few pounds,” said Mark Kaplan, co-author and professor of community health at Portland State University. “Our study only looked at mortality, not at quality of life, and there are many negative health consequences associated with obesity, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes.

Good health, the researchers point out, is about more than a Body Mass Index or a number on a scale. People who make good food choices, are physically active and manage stress are healthier.

The study examined the relationship between BMI and death in about 11,300 Canadians during a 12-year period. Researchers found that underweight people had the highest risk of dying; the extremely obese had the second highest risk. Overweight people had a lower risk of dying than those of normal weight.

An earlier study, conducted in the United States and published during 2005, showed similar results.

Researchers used data from the National Population Health Survey conducted by Statistics Canada every two years. During the study period — 1994-2007 — underweight people were 70 percent more likely to die than people of normal weight; and extremely obese people were 36 percent more likely to die.

But overweight people were 17 percent less likely. The relative risk for obese people was nearly the same as for people of normal weight. Authors controlled for factors such as age, sex, physical activity and smoking.

AMR wins corporate award

American Medical Response, El Paso County’s ambulance service, has won a national award for social responsibility for the second year in a row.

The American Business Awards recognized AMR for its Home for the Holidays program, which provides free transportation to residents in skilled nursing facilities.

AMR was selected from more than 100 entries in the category, “best corporate social responsibility program of the year.”

Cost most important

The nation’s entrepreneurs say cost containment is the most important component of health care reform, according to a survey from the National Association for the Self-Employed.

About 60 percent of business owners said that costs were first, followed by access and choice. The businesses, most of whom have 10 or fewer employees, said they are closely following public debate about health care reform.

And most of them — 71 percent — are opposed to the public option, a proposal that includes a government-run health insurance plan. The majority of owners also said they would select a private insurer when given the choice to purchase the exact same health insurance policy at the exact same price from either a private company or the federal government.

“Micro-businesses are distrustful of the federal government and its ability to manage health care,” said Kristie Arslan, executive director of NASE’s legislative offices. “They continue to bear witness to how the government creates inequities in the tax code, increases red tape and poorly manages their budget. If the self-employed were to run their business in the same manner as the federal government, these entrepreneurs would have been out of business a long time ago. Likewise, business owners do not feel that they should put their health care in the government’s hands via a public health plan.”

When asked about various market reforms, micro-businesses were most supportive of these choices:

Create an exchange or marketplace to facilitate the purchase of quality, affordable health coverage by allowing small businesses and individuals to easily compare and purchase the plans of their choice.

Require health insurance carriers to provide health insurance to all those who apply regardless of their health status.

Allow small businesses to join together via associations or organizations to purchase health insurance.

Create nonprofit insurance cooperatives across the country, organized by the government but owned by the cooperative members, in which small businesses and uninsured individuals can purchase health coverage.

Amy Gillentine covers health care for the Colorado Springs Business Journal.